Man thrown out of nightclub had cocaine and ketamine

Ethan Cox was ejected from After Dark on Wakefield’s Westgate and found to have bags of drugs on him.

The 23-year-old admitted escaping from lawful custody, two counts of possession of Class A drugs and one of Class B during a hearing this week at Leeds Crown Court.

He also admitted GBH without intent following a street fight in which he struck a man with a metal pole.

Cox, who was already on a suspended sentence, appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds having been held on remand, but received another suspended sentence with the judge telling him he was “in the last chance saloon”.

Prosecutor Jade Edwards said police had been called to Westgate at around 1.40am on October 25 last year.

Cox had been thrown out of the club and was being abusive towards door staff, offering violence.

Even after being arrested he continued to be aggressive and was found to have bags of cocaine and ketamine on him.

He was taken by police to Pinderfields Hospital shortly before 4am, claiming he was injured.

Officers did not handcuff him, and when the police van was opened, he ran off.

They later found him at his home address on Occupation Lane, Dewsbury, and he had another bag of cocaine in his hand when he was re-arrested.

Giving a no-comment interview, he was later released under investigation.

The police were then called on the afternoon of May 24 this year over two men fighting in the street on Heckmondwike Road, Dewsbury.

Wearing a balaclava and no top, Cox was armed with a metal bar, possibly a scaffolding pole, while the other male was swinging a dog chain.

The court was told there had been “bad blood” between them, with the other male being the partner of Cox’s ex girlfriend.

The other male suffered a broken elbow in the fight, before Cox was driven away in a black Audi driven by his uncle.

Arrested later, Cox gave another no-comment interview.

The court heard that Cox has a previous conviction for making threats with a Samurai sword, for which he was jailed, and multiple offences for possessing drugs.

A probation report said he regretted running from police after the nightclub arrest, and acknowledged that he should have walked away from the street fight.

However, he said he had been threatened by the victim.

Mitigating, Stephen Uttley said that the victim himself had “been no angel”, but conceded that Cox was immature and “childish”.

He said: “The smart thing to do would have been to walk away, but he didn’t.”

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Judge Anesh Pema gave Cox a 22-month sentence, but opted to suspend it for 24 months.

He ordered he complete a nine-month drug-rehabilitation requirement, a 90-day alcohol-monitoring requirement, a probation requirement, a six-month GPS tracker, and a five-year restraining order to keep him away from the fight victim.

Judge Pema warned him: “It’s a final, final chance. You must seize it otherwise there’s only one path you are going to follow.

“It’s very much a last-chance saloon. Make sure you comply and make sure you obey.”